The Wine Shack [June 2020]

As with many of my winery adventures, I found The Wine Shack completely by accident. You see I heard about this amazing 9-mile beach in Astoria, Oregon with giant rocks along the coastline. I googled photos, fell in love, and planned a trip to stay right on the beach. Cannon Beach, with Haystack Rock is the most gorgeous beach I have ever visited!! [still to this day] I did not even know until we got there that the opening scene in The Goonies [the car chase] was filmed right on this beach back in 1985!! The Goonies house is also located in Astoria. People actually live here and they allow photos from the driveway, but ask for the public to respect their privacy.

I just now learned that Point Break had scenes filmed on Cannon Beach, including some of the ending scenes. Now I am gonna have to go back and watch this movie again to see if I recognize it!! How cool!? Ok, so Haystack Rock stands 235 feet tall and at low tide, you can walk right out to it!! The rock is known for its population of Tufted Puffins. [remember this information for later] I can’t say enough about this beach, but we’re here to talk wine so… moving on. While we were walking around the shops and boutiques of downtown, I just so happened to see a sign for The Wine Shack!! [I mean what are the odds, right!? LOL]

Talk about waiting patiently for your dreams to come true, listen to this story... In 2007, Steven Sinkler and his wife Maryann went on a wine cruise. During the day the ship docked, and they toured wineries. In the evenings, once they were back on the ship a local sommelier offered classes about wine. [sounds like my kind of cruise!! Haha] This started a fire in Steven, and he started to study wine and winemaking, starting to make wine in their own basement. He would then print out labels that he designed and give them to friends. A couple years later they ended up in Cannon Beach and knew this is where they wanted to open a winery.

Meanwhile, back home in Iowa... the plans Steven was working on to build winery dream got some major interference from his “real job” [we all know that feeling, right!? Haha] when in 2010, they had to make a move to Atlanta. This was in the totally wrong direction from where they wanted to be headed, but they did not give up hope. The very next year Maryann transferred from her job in Atlanta to Portland, making a giant step in the right direction!! Steven started looking for wine jobs in the area and happened upon a Craigslist add listing The Wine Shack in Cannon Beach for sale... wow, just WOW!! In 2012 they became the proud owners of not only The Wine Shack, but Puffin Wines as well!! [Puffin, remember… the bird from Haystack Rock!? Awwww]

As you can see from the first photo, The Wine Shack is a sweet cozy looking little building. The Wine Shack has been a Cannon Beach fixture since 1977. Established by Dick and Mary Elizebeth Anderson. The Wine Shack is the oldest continuously run retail wine store in the state!! It changed hands a couple times before it fell into Steven and Maryann's hands, helping them realize their Cannon Beach dreams!! Once inside, if you turn to the left you will walk into a big bottle shop area. The wine Shack offers a large selection of Oregon and Washington wines. When you turn the right, where the above picture is taken, you land in this totally charming tasting room.

Check out the adorable Puffin Wine Pinot Noir label [seen below] featuring the Tufted Puffin!! I have it balanced on the railing in our room’s balcony, that faces Cannon Beach and the infamous Haystack Rock!! Just incredible, right!? This is the first of several visits back to Cannon Beach and to this very resort. My friend Amy did a travel assignment nearby so we went back a few times to visit. We explored the beach, let the puppies run around off leash, and had a wine picnic!! Then we took my friend Katie when she was visiting for another one of our EPIC trips!! We built a fire right on the beach, ate s'mores and drank some Puffin Wine till the weeee hours!! [prolly around nine!! Haha]  

I love their “Our Gratitude” tab on the Home page of The Wine Shack website. They talk about how they know that their customers have many options when it comes to buying wine. They say how much they appreciate the time taken to stop by and basically just a big “thank-you” for choosing The Wine Shack. I think it’s a pretty sweet gesture.  

Do you remember me talking about my awesome co-worker for this Washington assignment!? Well, they will be joining me again next week as Wine with Wixy heads into the woods for a private wine tasting at a most unlikely place to find a winery!! Proceed at your own caution!!

Cheers to you my wine loving friends, and TTFN!!